--- description: LIFE photographer John Shearer's images of the legendary musician, who died in Las Vegas on Thursday at the age of 89. title: B.B. King's 1972 Photo Shoot for LIFE image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc52fc41154a7639f/6987ef993c1639de78455fc2/150513-bb-king-06.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Remembering B.B. King, an Icon of the Blues ## Video: B.B. King Passes Away at 89 [Watch (HLS stream): B.B. King Passes Away at 89](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/wbb1hKeu.m3u8) (1:22)  _Published 2015-05-15. Blues icon B.B. King has died at the age of 89, following a 20-year battle with diabetes._ by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 15, 2015 6:11 AM CUT  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972.John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 15, 2015 6:11 AM CUT One of the most celebrated figures in the world of music, blues master B.B. King, died in Las Vegas on Thursday at the age of 89, according to the Associated Press, citing King’s lawyer. The leading bluesman of his generation sold millions of albums over the course of his phenomenal career and was an inductee in both the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His 2009 album, “One Kind Favor,” earned him his 15th Grammy. _Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter_ [_@lizabethronk_](https://twitter.com/LizabethRonk "undefined")_._  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Portrait of musician B.B. King in 1972. John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3857528/b-b-king-photos-blues-music-life-john-shearer/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3857528/b-b-king-photos-blues-music-life-john-shearer/"},"headline":"Remembering B.B. 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